Dispenser for booklets and similar articles



Feb. 15, 1966 c. H. ROSENBERG DISPENSER FOR BOOKLETS AND SIMILARARTICLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 1, 1964 I NVENTOR. CHARLES H.ROSENBERG ATTOR EYS W66 c. H. ROSENBERG DISPENSER FOR BOOKLETS ANDSIMILAR ARTICLES Filed April 1, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

CHARLES H. ROSENBERG ATTO EYS United States Patent Ofiice 3,235,318DISPENSER FOR BOGKLETS AND SlMlLAR ARTICLES Charles H. Rosenberg, Box2275, Tallahassee, Fla. Filed Apr. 1, 1964, Ser. No. 356,449 Claims.(Cl. 31242) This invention relates to article dispensers and moreparticularly to dispensers comprising cartons in novel combination withsupport means therefor, whereby piecemeal removal of the contents of thecartons or containers is facilitated.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novellyconstructed, portable stand or rack for removably supporting a carton orsimilar container on a counter or other horizontal surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a stand or rackconstructed in a novel manner from a single blank of sheet material,such as cardboard or other relatively stiff material, without the use ofcements or other supplemental forms of fastening or connecting means.

A further object is to provide a novelly constructed container or cartonadapted to cooperate in a novel manner with support means to facilitatedispensing the contents of the carton.

Still another object is to provide novel support means for replaceablysupporting article dispensing cartons or containers and the contentsthereof.

A still further object is to provide a novel dispenser for booklets orthe like comprising a novel container and support means novellyassociated therewith, whereby the booklets or similar articles may beremoved one at a time from the bottom of the container therefor.

Another object is to provide novel means in the form of a wall rack orbracket for supporting an article dispensing carton in a novel manner.

The above and further objects and novel features of the invention willmore fully appear from the following detail description when the same isread in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expresslyunderstood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose ofillustration only and are not intended as a definition of the limits ofthe invention.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like partsthroughout the several views,

FIG. 1 is an isometric view, with parts broken away, of one form ofcarton contemplated by the invention;

FIG. 1a is an isometric view of the bottom end of the container of FIG.1 with the end closure flaps only partially folded;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a blank used in constructing the rack orstand illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view showing the blank of FIG. 2 in partiallyfolded condition;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a stand or rack made from the blank ofFIG. 2 for supporting the carton of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view showing the carton and rack of FIGS. 1 and 4in cooperative relation;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken upon an enlarged scale substantially inthe plane of the section line 66 of FIG. 5, the thickness of the Wallsections being exaggerated for clarity;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view illustrating the carton of FIG. 1 supportedin the Wall bracket of FIG. 9;

FIG. 8 is a partial vertical sectional view taken upon an enlarged scalesubstantially in the plane of the section line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of one form of wall mounted supportcontemplated for use in combination with the carton of FIG. 1;

and is yet sturdy and durable.

3,2353% Patented Feb. 15, 19%5 FIG. 10 is a similar view of another formof wall mounted support with a container supported thereby beingillustrated in phantom; and

FIG. 11 is a similar view, with parts broken away, of iijighel modifiedform of Wall bracket for the carton of The novel container or cartoncontemplated by the invention is illustrated in the drawings, by way ofexample, in the form of a dispenser for booklets, such as trading stampbooklets. As shown in FIG. 1, the dispenser carton or container 14 isrectangular in horizontal section to fit the booklets 11 stacked fiat orbroadside therein (FIG. 6) and may consist of a folded blank orcardboard or the like with a vertical longitudinal seam (not shown). Theupper end 12 of the carton may be closed in any suitable known manner,such as by folded fiaps, or the same may be left open to facilitaterefilling.

The lower or dispensing end of carton it) is novelly formed with sidepanel flaps 14, 14 folded inwardly from the side panels 15, 15 of thecarton. Said flaps may fold into overlapping relation or not, asdesired, and width wise, the same extend forwardly from the rear panel16 a distance which is less than the thickness or width of the cartonfrom back to front.

An end closure flap 17 may consist of an extension of rear panel 16folded forwardly to underlie side flaps 14, 14. Flap 17 may be dividedinto three integrally connected sections by score lines 13 and 19, suchthat when the flap is in folded or closing position, the score 18 willline up with the forward edges 26* of side flaps 14, 14, and score 19will be in substantial alignment with the front panel 21 of the carton.Thus, the outer section or flap 17 may be tucked between the front panel21 and the forward edges of the pile of stacked booklets 11 when thefilled carton is in storage or transit. When flap 17 is folded alongscore line 18 and the central and outer sections thereof are folded backand tucked between the inner surfaces of side flaps 14 and the bottom ofthe pile of booklets 11, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the booklets may bereadily removed one or several at a time through the transverse openingor slot 22 between the folded edge 18 of flap l7 and the lower edge offront panel 21. If desired, a notch 23 may be provided in front panel 21to facilitate grasping the edge of the bottom-most booklet 11 with thethumb and fingers for edgewise removal thereof, as illustrated by dottedlines in PEG. 6.

Novel support means are provided by the invention for novel combinationwith the above-described dispensing container whereby the latter may bereadily and suitably displayed and the booklets may be readily andeasily removed therefrom. The embodiment illustrated, by way of example,in FIG. 4 is in the form of a portable counter rack or stand 30 whichmay be inexpensively constructed As shown, stand 30 consists of a singleblank 31 (FIG. 2) cut from or died out of a sheet of cardboard, plasticor other suitable foldable material and novelly folded and interlockedto receive and firmly support carton 10 with its contents in a novelmanner.

Blank 31 as viewed in FIG. 2 is preferably divided into a number ofsections or panels by fold lines which are shown dotted and along whichthe blank may be scored to facilitate folding thereof. Longitudinallines 32 and transverse line 33 divide one end portion of the blank intoa central or base panel 34 and two L-shaped side panels 35 and 36. Theremainder of the blank is divided by fold lines 33, 37 and 37, 38 into afront panel 39, a ramp or support panel 40 and a ramp positioning panel41. The blank is also provided with a U-shaped slit 62 to form a tongueor lip 43 which may be folded on line 44 parallel with line 37, 37.

To form the supporting rack as seen in FIG. 4, blank 31 is first foldedor bent along lines 33, 37 and 38 so that front panel 39 assumes agenerally vertical position (FIG. 3), ramp panel 40 slopes downwardlyand rearwardly from the upper edge of front panel 39, and positioningpanel 41 lies flat against base panel 34 with the marginal edge portionof panel 41 and its laterally extending ears or tabs 42, 42 projectingbeyond the rear edge of the blank. Tongue 43 is then folded back alongline 44 to assume a position generally parallel to and slightly aboveramp panel 40. L-shaped side panels 35, 36 are now folded upwardly andinwardly and are interlocked in criss-cross relation by means ofoppositely facing slots 45 and 46 to form an inverted V above base panel34.

The forward edges 47 of the longer upright legs of panels 35, 36preferably are inclined rearwardly at an angle of about 90 to the uppersurface of ramp 40 so that when the bottom end of carton 10 is seated onthe ramp panel, the rear panel 16 of the carton will rest against theupstanding interlocked legs of panels 35, 36. The shorter or horizontallegs of the L-shaped side panels 35, 36 project upwardly beyond thesurface of ramp panel 46 and thus overlap and engage the side panels ofthe carton to hold the base of the latter against lateral movement.

The fore and aft length of ramp 40 is such that carton 16, when seatedin the stand (FIG. 6), extends forwardly beyond front panel 33 andhence, the front edge of ramp 40, a distance approximately equal to thewidth of opening 22 in the bottom end of the container. The tongue 43may thus be inserted between the bottom of the stack of books 11 and thetucked-in portion of closure flap 17 (FIG. 6). The tongue and ramp thusform a bight to receive the end closure of the carton 10 edgewise andthus secure the carton on the stand or rack while leaving the dispensingslot or opening 22 unobstructed for the easy edgewise removal ofbooklets 11 from the bottom of the pile or stack as above described.

Any tendency of the carton 10 and ramp panel 40 to move forwardly as thebooklets are pulled out is prevented by tabs 42, 42 which engage therear edge of side panels 35, 36 and thus limit the forward movement oframp panel 40. If desired, the ramp positioning panel 41 may beterminated between side panels 35, 36 and the tabs 42 may then projectthrough or into slots 48 at the base of said panels, one such slot beingindicated by dotted lines in FIG. 5. The tabs 42 may even be attached tothe edges of ramp panel 40 to project into suitable openings in the sidepanels.

A further embodiment of support means for the above described dispensingcarton or container is illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 9 in the form of asimplified wall bracket type of support. It consists simply of arelatively stiff sheet metal member bent intermediate the ends thereofto form a vertical wall engaging part 50 and a horizontal shelflike part51. A rectangular band 52 formed of wire or strap metal to surroundcarton 10 is suitably secured to part 59 of the bracket above shelf 51.In the most simplified construction band 52 is rigidly secured to thewall engaging section 50, such as by soldering or brazing, at a suitabledistance above shelf 51. Preferably, the latter does not extendhorizontally outwardly from part 50 beyond the rear edge of thedispensing opening 22 in the bottom end of the carton.

The wall bracket support 50, 51 may be secured to a vertical wall 53 byany suitable means, such as screws 54 or the like, but the same ispreferably secured in a novel manner by means of one or more strips 55of double faced adhesive tape. The strips are adhesively adhered to thewall engaging surface of panel 50 of the bracket, and the outer orexposed surfaces of the adhesive strips are adhered to a wall which maybe glass or other type of polished surface. outer adhesive surfaces ofstrips 55 may be protected in Prior to mounting the support, the

4. a known manner by removable paper or similar backing sheets 56 (FIG.9).

A modified wall bracket type of support for dispenser carton 10 is shownin FIG. 10 wherein the upper end of the carton is positioned or held bya U-shaped wire band or bale 57 which is pivotally mounted on rear panel58 of a support made of metal, plastic or other suitable material. Theupper end of panel 58 is curled over or otherwise formed to providetransverse journals for pivotally receiving transverse extensions ofwire band 57. As also illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, the supportingshelf part 59 of the support may be bent upwardly and reawardly orotherwise shaped to provide a lip or rib 60 to engage the forward edge18 of the partial bottom end closure for the carton to restrain outwardmovement of the carton while booklets are being pulled through opening22 from the bottom of the stack.

A further modification is illustrated in FIG. 11 wherein the upper endof the carton is retained by a forwardly and downwardly bent extensionor latch 61 of a metal or plastic bracket support otherwise similar tothat illustrated in FIG. 10. The material is preferably sufficientlyresilient to permit the top or latching panel 61 to be sprung into andout of operative engagement with the upper end of carton 10 to therebypermit ready removal and replacement of the cartons. The latter may alsobe inserted and removed from either side of the supporting bracket ifspace permits without deflecting the upper holding panel 61.

Although only a limited number of embodiments or modifications of theinvention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings anddescribed in the foregoing specification, it is to be expresslyunderstood that the invention is not limited thereto. For example,separate features of each embodiment or modification may be utilized inother embodiments illustrated and described, and if desired, theresilient latch 61 of the embodiment of FIG. 11 may be replaced by twosimilar oppositely disposed latches engageable with the vertical sidesof the container. Various other changes may also be made in the detailsof construction illustrated and in the materials suggested withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as will now beapparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispenser in which fiat articles are adapted to be stackedcomprising a carton made from a blank of stiff material folded to form atubular container having a transverse cross-section enclosing said stackof articles, said container including a front wall connected to a pairof spaced side walls on either side thereof and a back wall, said wallsterminating at a lower edge of said blank defining a lower open end ofthe tubular container, a pair of side flaps connected to the side wallsalong the lower edge of the blank and folded into the open end of thetubular container in close spaced relation to each other, said sideflaps being spaced from the front wall to accommodate a dispensing slotat the lower end of the tubular container from which a lowermost articlemay be withdrawn, an end closure flap connected to the back wallextending below the side flaps and having a folded portion foldablebetween a closing position closing said lower open end of the tubularcontainer and a dispensing position folded about the side fiaps to formsaid dispensing slot at the lower end of the tubular container, saidfront wall having a notch formed in the lower edge of the blank forexposing said lowermost article when supported on top of the foldedportion of the closure flap in the dispensing position thereof, andsupport means for holding the tubular container in a substantiallyvertical position.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said support means includes amember encircling and rcleasably supporting said container, an adhesivecoating on said support means by which the latter and said container maybe mounted upon a supporting surface.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said support means comprises arack supporting the container in a rearwardly inclined position, saidrack having a tab portion folded above the folded portion of the closureflap to resist forward displacement of the container upon withdrawal ofsaid lowermost article therefrom.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said rack is made from a foldedblank of stiff material having a base panel, a pair of side panelsconnected to the base panel, said side panels having verticallyelongated leg portions interconnected to support the back wall of thecontainer in said inclined position thereof, and side wall portionsengageable with the side walls of the container to resist lateraldisplacement thereof, a ramp panel, means connecting said ramp panel tothe base panel in a downwardly inclined position between the side wallpositions of the side panels to receive the end closure fiap thereon,and means connected to the ramp panel and engageable with the sidepanels for resisting displacement of the ramp panel from a positionsupporting the container in said rearwardly inclined position, said tabportion of the rack extending upwardly from the means connecting theramp panel to the base panel.

5. In combination with a container or the like, a supporting rack madefrom a folded blank of stiff material having a base panel, a pair ofside panels connected to the base panel, said side panels havingvertically elongated leg portions interconnected to form a back support,and side wall portions, a ramp panel, means connecting said ramp panelto the base panel in a downwardly inclined position between the sidewall portions, means connected to the ramp panel and engageable with theside panels for resisting displacement of the ramp panel from arearwardly inclined position, and an anchoring tab extending upwardlyfrom the means connecting the ramp panel to the base panel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,5 84,441 5/1926 Engelken 31242 2,263,956 11/1941 Russell 2483 11 2,730,231 1/1956Ryan 206-30 2,765,998 10/1956 Engert 24829 2,825,519 3/1958 Potts et a1248-174 2,883,139 4/1959 Dobkin 248311 2,903,225 9/ 1959 Weinstein248-311 2,825,519 3/1958 Potts et al 248174 2,970,027 1/1961 Bulger etal 312-42 2,976,095 3/1961 Taves 3 l242 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, PrimaryExaminer.

1. A DISPENSER IN WHICH FLAT ARTICLES ARE ADAPTED TO BE STACKEDCOMPRISING A CARTON MADE FROM A BLANK OF STIFF MATERIAL FOLDED TO FORM ATUBULAR CONTAINER HAVING A TRANSVERSE CROSS-SECTION ENCLOSING SAID STACKOF ARTICLES, SAID CONTAINER INCLUDING A FRONT WALL CONNECTED TO A PAIROF SPACED SIDE WALLS ON EITHER SIDE THEREOF AND A BACK WALL, SAID WALLSTERMINATING AT A LOWER EDGE OF SAID BLANK DEFINING A LOWER OPEN END OFTHE TUBULAR CONTAINER, A PAIR OF SIDE FLAPS CONNECTED TO THE SIDE WALLSALONG THE LOWER EDGE OF THE BLANK AND FOLDED INTO THE OPEN END OF THETUBULAR CONTAINER IN CLOSE SPACED RELATION TO EACH OTHER, SAID SIDEFLAPS BEING SPACED FROM THE FRONT WALL TO ACCOMMODATE A DISPENSING SLOTAT THE LOWER END OF THE TUBULAR CONTAIN FROM WHICH A LOWERMOST ARTICLEMAY BE WITHDRAWN, AN END CLOSURE FLAP CONNECTED TO THE BACK WALLEXTENDING BELOW THE SIDE FLAPS AND HAVING A FOLDED PORTION FOLDABLEBETWEEN A CLOSING POSITION CLOSING SAID LOWER OPEN END OF THE TUBULARCONTAINER AND A DISPENSING POSITION FOLDED ABOUT THE SIDE FLAPS TO FORMSAID DISPENSING SLOT AT THE LOWER END OF TUBULAR CONTAINER, SAID FRONTWALL HAVING A NOTCH FORMED IN THE LOWER EDGE OF THE BLANK FOR EXPOSINGSAID LOWERMOST ARTICLE WHEN SUPPORTED ON TOP OF THE FOLDED PORTION OFTHE CLOSURE FLAP IN THE DISPENSING POSITION THEREOF, AND SUPPORT MEANSFOR HOLDING THE TUBULAR CONTAINER IN A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL POSITION.